European Commission document: Guidelines for border management – CoVid 19

On March 16, the European Commission published the document containing the “Guidelines relating to border management measures designed to protect health and ensure the availability of essential goods and services” for the coordination, at EU level, of measures related to border management in relation to the CoVid Emergency 19 The guidelines, on the transport of goods and services, health measures and internal and external borders, establish integrated principles for the management of the various national borders in order to protect health while preserving the integrity of the single market.

The need for collective and coordinated intervention in the transport and mobility sector is emphasized, so that control measures should not hinder the continuity of economic activities, giving priority to emergency transport and supply chains, especially essential ones, without unfair practices are in place.

It is also emphasized that it is necessary to guarantee the entry of their citizens and residents in the various Member States who must also facilitate the transit of EU citizens to return to their residence as well as the professional travel that they guarantee transport of goods and services.

With regard to health measures, it is recommended to introduce screening at the external borders, with standard procedures, at entry and exit to assess the presence of symptoms at CoVid 19 of community travelers, with possible isolation of suspicious cases, and record their whereabouts on board various means of transport.

With regard to internal borders, Member States may reintroduce temporary border controls if these are justified for reasons of public policy and internal security as well as the possibility of denying access to non-resident third-country nationals, or applying the measures of the IS or quarantine, if they have symptoms compatible with the virus or if they are considered a risk to public health.